Lancashire Police spotlight child grooming in new theatre resource

Lancashire Police are using the power of theatre to highlight the dangers of child grooming.

Joining forces with Lancaster’s award-winning Dukes Theatre, officers are funding a new project which will reveal the heartache endured by victims of sexual exploitation.

Alex Summers. (s)

The characters and scenarios might be fictional but for many children across the county the abuse is a reality.

Leading the fight is PC Martin Midgley, who said: "Grooming and sexual exploitation are on the rise and if we try to do something on our own as a police service it becomes difficult.

"Drama projects are different to what we'd normally do, so we're hoping this will be more effective in reaching young people."

The Dukes Theatre's Centre for Creative Learning is devising a free and story-based resource exploring the topics of choice and consent, healthy relationships, abusive behaviours and online safety to help teachers and youth workers educate pupils about the risks of child sexual exploitation.

Leading the three-year project is associate director Alex Summers (33), who said: "We've worked with police officers, social workers and health professionals who all have amazing skills - they've been really generous in opening their doors to us and sharing their expertise," he said.

"Child sexual exploitation is a far-reaching issue but people tend to think only of gangs and drugs."

But there are many subtler, low-level scenarios which might escalate into abuse, he added.

Writer Mary Cooper has also been enlisted to conduct interviews in schools and safeguarding hubs to produce stories, characters and situations which can then be discussed by young people with their friends, parents, teachers or other authorities.

The project will involve around 200 people, include case studies, staff training and workshops, and will be offered to all youth organisations and primary and secondary schools in Lancashire.

It will build on the vital work of Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner, who set up Nest Lancashire to provide support for young victims.

Now he is using his Community Safety Fund to support the theatre project and ultimately help to cut the problem at its root.